Any baby speech experts out there?

[mamatobabes]

Hi all!

My DD is 18 months old. She isn't speaking yet except for lots of babble and 'mim-mim' which is Mummy (I know because she points to the Mummy picture in her book and and to me - or whacks me with the Mummy page!)

Her hearing is great, as is her understanding and comprehension, I think. She knows stories now (anticipates bits that make her laugh), can pick out loads of things in her books when asked (different animals, items, flowers etc) and is even starting to know her colours. She follows pretty much any simple instruction I give, and is starting to be able to remove her own shoes, put on a hat, lift her feet to have socks put on etc. So I'm not concerned about learning per se.

But no words! Lots of pointing and 'nrrrr' and I think, frustration because I don't understand what she wants. I'm a SAHM, and she's my first so she has 1-1 attention all day and I spend most of our time playing, reading, etc.

I'm getting a bit worried. What can I do to help her learn to speak? All of the other children we know her age have lots of words by now! I'm concerned I'm missing something - I've always narrated our days, I try to leave gaps for her to speak, I ask questions, when she points that she wants a yoghurt, I'll reiterate the word back to her 'yes, that's a yoghurt!'

Where am I going wrong?

Keep doing what you're doing, reading, chatting, describing. Do you listen to different kinds of music?

My DD didn't talk until she was 3 and then spoke in complete sentences. She was obvs listening all along.

DS spoke words & short phrases then had a repetitive stutter when constructing sentences approx age 3. Was fine after a year. His nursery helped as they had a speech and language lady who was brilliant.

Yep, we listen to music and she dances! Especially to that god awful Peter Rabbit cartoon theme tune/songs. God I hate it, but she loves it She doesn't watch much TV by the way, she gets bored after 5 minutes and moves on to something else.

Babytalk by Sally Ward is a great book that might help. It's a sort of program where you do half an hour of age appropriate activities a day to help develop language skills.

You're not doing anything wrong. You're baby's development sounds totally normal.

Really @InDubiousBattle? Thanks. I'm a first time mum so I have no reference point, other than the other children the same age I know all of whom are speaking a good few words by now (and most of hem have been doing so for a while).

It sounds like you're doing all the right things, and in most things your baby is developing perfectly fine. However, 'normal' development would usually be to have around 20 words at this age. That doesn't mean that your DD won't be absolutely fine, but it might be worth having her checked out - either by the HV, or in most places you can self-refer to speech and language therapy on the NHS. It can take a while to get the help you need; as a teacher I always refer early, and if you end up not needing the help you haven't lost anything.
There's a really good progress checker here: www.talkingpoint.org.uk/node/366/take

Have you thought about trying a baby sing & sign group? Learning signs is a great way of communicating her needs and will also encourage language development.

Yes to Babytalk by Sally Ward - fab book.

But it sounds like you're doing everything right! She'll get there :)

Dd didn't talk much until she turned two, then she started to speak in sentences overnight.

Honestly op! My ds had 5 words a month before his 2nd birthday (and two of those were 'baa' and 'ne-nar')when we went to our first SALT drop in. We were told that at this age understanding, comprehension and babbling are much more importation than speaking and your dd has 6 months to go until she's even 2.

I really wouldn't bother with SALT drop ins at this age, most places won't really see you until they're two any way and even then would most likely tell you to come back in 3 months. Carry on as you are and re assess in 6 months when your dd will have a hv review anyway would be my advice.

Very normal. DS didn't say anything until around 18m and then woke up with about 30 clear words one day. DD is 16m and her speech has been more gradual, making attempts at words for a few weeks before mastering a few at a time. Definitely no need to worry or actively 'do' anything. They all get there in their own time.